drilled; drilling; drills
1
a
: to fix something in the mind or habit pattern of by repetitive instruction
drill pupils in spelling
b
: to impart or communicate by repetition
c
: to train or exercise in military drill
2
a(1)
: to bore or drive a hole in
(2)
: to make by piercing action
drill a hole
b
: to shoot with or as if with a gun
c(1)
: to propel (something, such as a ball) with force or accuracy
drilled a single to right field
(2)
: to hit with force
drilled the batter with the first pitch
1
: an instrument with an edged or pointed end for making holes in hard substances by revolving or by a succession of blows
also
: a machine for operating such an instrument
2
: the act or exercise of training soldiers in marching and in executing prescribed movements with a weapon
3
a
: a physical or mental exercise aimed at perfecting facility and skill especially by regular practice
b
: a formal exercise by a team of marchers
c
: the approved, correct, or usual procedure for accomplishing something : routine
4
a
: a marine snail (Urosalpinx cinerea) destructive to oysters by boring through their shells and feeding on the soft parts
b
: any of several mollusks related to the drill
5
: a drilling sound
: a western African baboon (Mandrillus leucophaeus synonym Papio leucophaeus) having a black face and brown coat and closely related to the mandrill
1
a
: a shallow furrow or trench into which seed is sown
b
: a row of seed sown in such a furrow
2
: a planting implement that makes holes or furrows, drops in the seed and sometimes fertilizer, and covers them with earth
drilled; drilling; drills
1
: to sow (seeds) by dropping along a shallow furrow
2
a
: to sow with seed or set with seedlings inserted in drills
b
: to distribute seed or fertilizer in by means of a drill
: a durable cotton twilled fabric
Synonyms
Examples of drill in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2024
The Los Angeles Lakers blew a 20-point third-quarter lead and watched helplessly as Jamal Murray drilled a 15-foot step-back jumper at the buzzer to lose a heartbreaking game to the Nuggets on Monday night.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2024
Basically, reopen lands to drilling and boost the industry in different ways.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
There are, in fact, robust protocols for avoiding earthquakes, such as by not drilling near active faults.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Quick is the operative word in this instance, as the Verge reports that the solution to the slippery pedals problem is a 35-second job that sees engineers drill a hole in the pedal and install a rivet.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
That’s when Perez drilled a 97 mph fastball from White Sox reliever Michael Kopech over the center-field wall.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
He’s thrown too many pitches in the middle of the zone, including a changeup that Triston Casas drilled 429 feet for a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 13 Apr. 2024
To obtain the copper ore, Resolution will use a method known as block cave mining, in which tunnels are drilled beneath the ore body, and then collapsed, leaving the ore to be moved to a crushing facility.
—The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
Kern is recovering from a finger injury, and Greene reportedly is fully recovered from Achilles surgery but sat out spring drills to play it safe.
—Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2024
Research by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Social Dynamics and Wellbeing Lab suggests an association between active shooter drills and increases in depression, stress and anxiety among students, parents and teachers.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
After an Emmy-winning performance on Roots, Gossett became first Black performer to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work as drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in 1982's An Officer and a Gentleman opposite Richard Gere.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
For the Philippines, the joint drills provide an opportunity not just to train but to assert its claims in the South China Sea where China has built artificial islands, walled off resource-rich shoals and harassed Philippine vessels, said Philippine defense officials.
—Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
The set comes with three buildable dinosaurs (a T. rex, a Triceratops, and a Velociraptor), a toy electric drill with two drill bits, three toy screwdrivers, and several plastic screws.
—Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
Under the leadership of M. S. Golwalkar, Hedgewar’s successor, the group patterned itself on Mussolini’s party, creating a system of educational centers where members lived, studied, and trained, replete with uniforms and drills.
—Hartosh Singh Bal, Foreign Affairs, 12 Apr. 2024
If, for example, China decides to make a move in the Taiwan Strait, Russia could simultaneously stage a provocative large-scale military drill in Europe, helping China by straining U.S. capacities to respond.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
Verb
In a 2021 preseason exhibition, the Firebirds lost by a respectable 21 points (after being drilled 118-35 in 2013).
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2024
The Los Angeles Lakers blew a 20-point third-quarter lead and watched helplessly as Jamal Murray drilled a 15-foot step-back jumper at the buzzer to lose a heartbreaking game to the Nuggets on Monday night.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2024
Basically, reopen lands to drilling and boost the industry in different ways.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
There are, in fact, robust protocols for avoiding earthquakes, such as by not drilling near active faults.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Quick is the operative word in this instance, as the Verge reports that the solution to the slippery pedals problem is a 35-second job that sees engineers drill a hole in the pedal and install a rivet.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
That’s when Perez drilled a 97 mph fastball from White Sox reliever Michael Kopech over the center-field wall.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
He’s thrown too many pitches in the middle of the zone, including a changeup that Triston Casas drilled 429 feet for a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 13 Apr. 2024
To obtain the copper ore, Resolution will use a method known as block cave mining, in which tunnels are drilled beneath the ore body, and then collapsed, leaving the ore to be moved to a crushing facility.
—The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Noun
Some schools might hold simulated drills, like the ones Siegel experienced.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
Kern is recovering from a finger injury, and Greene reportedly is fully recovered from Achilles surgery but sat out spring drills to play it safe.
—Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2024
Research by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Social Dynamics and Wellbeing Lab suggests an association between active shooter drills and increases in depression, stress and anxiety among students, parents and teachers.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
After an Emmy-winning performance on Roots, Gossett became first Black performer to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work as drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in 1982's An Officer and a Gentleman opposite Richard Gere.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
For the Philippines, the joint drills provide an opportunity not just to train but to assert its claims in the South China Sea where China has built artificial islands, walled off resource-rich shoals and harassed Philippine vessels, said Philippine defense officials.
—Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
The set comes with three buildable dinosaurs (a T. rex, a Triceratops, and a Velociraptor), a toy electric drill with two drill bits, three toy screwdrivers, and several plastic screws.
—Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
Under the leadership of M. S. Golwalkar, Hedgewar’s successor, the group patterned itself on Mussolini’s party, creating a system of educational centers where members lived, studied, and trained, replete with uniforms and drills.
—Hartosh Singh Bal, Foreign Affairs, 12 Apr. 2024
If, for example, China decides to make a move in the Taiwan Strait, Russia could simultaneously stage a provocative large-scale military drill in Europe, helping China by straining U.S. capacities to respond.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near drill
Cite this Entry
“Drill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drill. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drill
1 of 5 noun1
: a tool for making holes in hard substances
2
: the training of soldiers in military skill and discipline
3
: a physical or mental exercise regularly practiced
4
: a marine snail that bores through oyster shells and feeds on the soft parts
drill
2 of 5 verb1
: to instruct or train by repetition
drill a child in multiplication
drill troops
2
: to bore or make a hole in with or as if with a drill
drill a tooth
drill a hole
driller
noun
drill
3 of 5 noun1
: a shallow furrow or trench into which seed is sown
2
: a planting machine that makes holes or furrows, drops in seed, and covers it with earth
drill
4 of 5 verb
: to sow with or as if with a drill
drill
5 of 5 noun
: a strong cotton fabric in twill weave
Etymology
Noun
probably from Dutch dril "a tool for drilling holes," derived from early Dutch drillen (verb) "to drill"
Noun
perhaps from earlier drill "a trickling stream"
Noun
shortened from drilling "heavy cotton fabric," from German Drillich (same meaning)
Medical Definition
drill
1 of 2 transitive verb
: to make a hole in with a drill
the dentist drilled the tooth for a filling
: to make a hole with a drill
painless dental drilling
drill
2 of 2 noun
: an instrument with an edged or pointed end for making holes in hard substances (as bones or teeth) by revolving
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